Book 5: Starting Again

Ingrid

In the morning, I storm around Som Palace. Everyone is still slow and tired after the funeral. I barely slept. But I have—according to my mate, who lied to my face and would have continued to do so if I didn’t catch him—an account of Prince Amval’s last day, the missing piece I need to solve this mystery and get home.

I don’t care that he’s alive. There’s nothing here for me once this is over. I’m only still bothering because, if he’s right and this person is coming for his family next, I owe Joli better than just disappearing.

Cirocco and his other two triplets are in the sunny little room where they always eat breakfast. I shoulder open the door and step inside. Hova, who I think is the youngest, jumps up.

“Princess Ingrid,” he asks, “what are you doing here?”

I cut my eyes at Cirocco. “Your brother wanted to talk to me.”

Hova and Esen turn in unison. Cirocco swallows whatever he was eating audibly.

“I thought…I mea